Side- and front-mounting cylinders
is a common practice among divers carrying out deeper or longer
dives. In some cases large-volume tanks such as 12 or 15 litres
filled with different gas mixes must be transported throughout a
dive in addition to a back-mounted twin-set. In these situations
it’s vital to be familiar with your kit configuration. Breathing
the wrong mix of gas or simply not being able to find a second stage
when it’s time to switch gases can be fatal. Unfortunately
when you get on a plane to go diving it becomes difficult to keep
that perfect configuration. Hiring cylinders means you’ve
got to take all the bands and clips off your cylinders, bring them
with you, and re-configure everything before you dive. RED UK has
an answer in its new Quick Stage system that is easy and quick to
adjust without using tools. DIVE’s test team took it to Gibraltar
where we were diving with ten and 12 litre cylinders in front-and
side-mounted positions.

The Quick Stage consists of two sections. An adjustable cam band
(the same you find on the back of most BCDs), fitted with a stainless
steel D-ring, offers a strong locating point to clip on to, at the
base of your cylinder. It can be adjusted to fit cylinders from
three to 15 litres. A separate top fastener wraps around the cylinder
neck and attaches with a brass piston clip. RED UK has also incorporated
a Fastex buckle that clips to your second stage for neat storage
during every dive.

The system was used by four of the
DIVE teams who all commented on the ease of preparation and the
total comfort in water. Switching mounting positions underwater
was also very easy to carry out.